Adaptive management and leadership in crisis contexts: sustaining volunteer engagement in Ukraine during martial law

Abstract

The prolonged crisis conditions triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine have profoundly transformed the landscape of volunteer activity and the management of civil society organizations. Under martial law, volunteer organizations have become pivotal actors in addressing humanitarian, logistical, social, and military support challenges. However, sustaining volunteer engagement and preventing burnout amid persistent uncertainty has emerged as a critical managerial and leadership challenge. This paper offers a conceptual exploration of adaptive management and leadership practices that support the long-term involvement of volunteers within crisis-driven organizations in Ukraine. Drawing on contemporary management and leadership theories, including adaptive leadership, transformational and servant leadership, and crisis management frameworks, the paper develops a multidimensional conceptual model linking organizational adaptability, motivational mechanisms, and sustained volunteer participation. It argues that effective volunteer management during wartime requires flexible decision-making, decentralized coordination, transparent communication, and a strong sense of shared purpose. Adaptive management enables organizations to adjust internal processes, redistribute resources, and realign priorities in response to rapidly evolving conditions, while adaptive leadership fosters psychological safety, collective efficacy, and moral resilience among volunteers. The proposed conceptual framework emphasizes three interrelated dimensions essential for sustaining engagement: managerial adaptability – the capacity to institutionalize learning and modify operational routines; leadership responsiveness – the ability to provide meaning, trust, and empowerment; and volunteer motivation and retention – grounded in intrinsic values of solidarity and civic responsibility rather than external incentives. By synthesizing insights from crisis management, nonprofit leadership, and volunteerism studies, this work contributes to the theoretical understanding of how civil society organizations can maintain operational continuity and human commitment during extreme disruptions. While focusing on the Ukrainian context, the conceptual implications extend to other crisis-affected regions, offering guidance for strengthening the resilience and sustainability of volunteer engagement in volatile environments.